Most Affordable Online Elementary Education Degrees of 2025

Elementary education is a calling for many who are interested in teaching children and helping young minds flourish and grow. If you’re interested in becoming an elementary school teacher, the first step is to get your bachelor’s degree in education.

Online education degrees from accredited institutions are considered just as valid and trustworthy as degrees obtained on campus. Graduates of online programs find them valuable to their career path, and online options tend to be less expensive.

Explore our guide below to learn more about the best online elementary education available to you.

We surveyed online psychology, education, and social sciences students and graduates to see what they thought about their online programs for our 2024 Online Education Trends Report. Read what they had to say about the value of their degree:

When you’re comparing which online program to pursue, be sure to analyze the cost of the program, how long it will take, what careers it’ll prepare you for, if financial aid will be available, and if the program is accredited. All of these factors will contribute to how much of a return on your investment the degree will bring.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the average net price for in-state elementary education programs is $5,428. The average in-state tuition and fees for an education program is $9,875.

Each program may vary in cost and the available amount of scholarships and grants. You will have to research the programs you are interested in to see if you can afford them. Keep in mind you will also have to pay for course materials and technology costs related to accessing online courses.

A typical bachelor’s degree in elementary education takes four years, or 120 credits, to complete. If you’re looking to complete your degree in a shorter amount of time, you can look into accelerated degrees. Accelerated and online programs tend to help you get your degree faster. After you complete your degree, you may also need to set aside time to prepare for and take your teaching certification test.

A bachelor’s degree is an investment of your time and money, so you want to make sure the program you choose is worth it and will give you a quality education. One way to ensure quality and value is by verifying a program is accredited. Programmatic accreditation means that a program has met certain standards of quality set by an independent third party. Even online schools are accredited.

Once you complete your elementary education degree, you’ll want to get any additional state-required licenses or certifications in order to begin teaching. With your degree, you will be able to pursue a career as an elementary school teacher, special education teacher, teacher assistant, kindergarten teacher, or childcare center director.

Unfortunately, these jobs are experiencing little to no growth or even a decline in growth from 2023-2033 according to the BLS. However, that means having a bachelor’s degree in education is all the more important because it makes you a more competitive job candidate in this tight market.

While you likely won’t make six figures as an elementary educator, what you will be doing will have an impact on your students for years to come. Research shows that early education has an immense effect on how students do for the rest of their lives.

Earning your bachelor’s degree is crucial in the journey to becoming a teacher: You will need to get your degree if you want to teach in school classrooms. The average net price for in-state elementary education programs is $5,428. Meanwhile, the median pay of an elementary teacher was $63,670 as of May 2023, so it can make financial sense to pursue this degree and this career, depending on your goals and budget.

Once you complete your bachelor’s degree in elementary education, you can go on to pursue a master’s or doctoral degree in education or related fields. Getting an advanced degree will make you eligible for more competitive jobs that tend to pay better and have more responsibilities. Earning specific certifications or licenses or completing specialized training can prepare you for certain jobs and indicate to future employers you are ready for them.